Present Simple

Present Simple

Basic

1) We use the Present Simple for repeated actions? habits. Especially with the words always, often, never, sometimes, regularly.

a) It always rains at the weekend.

2) We use the Present Simple for a routine or situation that we see as permanent

a) I work at a sports shop, it’s my permanent job.

b) They live in a very nice flat.

3) We use the Present Simple to talk about thoughts and feelings

a) Kitty likes her job.

b) I think it’s a good program.

4) We use the Present Simple to talk about permanent facts, scientific facts

a) Paper burns easily

Intermediate

5) We use the Present Simple to talk about permanent states. State verbs are: be, believe, belong, consist of, contain, depend on, deserve, exist, hate, know, like, love, matter, mean, own, prefer, remember, resemble, seem, understand

a) We have three cars.

b) I come from Sweden.

c) The bag weights five kilos.

6) We use the Present Simple in phrases I promise, I agree etc

a) I promise I’ll pay you back

7) We can use the Present Simple with such verbs as smell, hear, taste, see.

a) This room smells. Let’s open the window.

8) We use the Present Simple in a negative question with why to make a suggestion

a) Why don’t we go out?

9) We can use the Present Simple for the future when we are talking about a timetable, usually a public one such as a train timetable.

a) The train leaves at 7:40 tomorrow morning.

10) We use the Present Simple in time clauses with conjunctions as soon as, before, by the time, when, while, until.

a) When you see Dave, tell him he still owns me money.

11) We use the Present Simple in conditional clauses with if, in case, provided and unless.

a) Provided the right software is available, I should be able to solve the problem

12) We use the Present Simple to talk about possible future events with suppose, supposing, and what if at the beginning of the sentence.

a) Suppose we miss the bus – how will we get home?

b) What if the train is late? Where shall I meet you then?

Advanced

10) We use be to for a future event that is officially arranged

a) The Queen is to visit Portugal in November.

11) We use the Present Simple in stories to describe the sequence of events happening one after the other.

a) She goes up to this man and looks straight into his eyes, but he doesn’t recognize her.

12) We use the Present Simple with verbs which perform the action they describe. They are called performatives – acknowledge, advise, beg, confess, congratulate, declare, deny, forbid, guarantee, name, order, permit, predict, promise, refuse, remind, request, thank, warn.

a) I admit I can’t see as well as I used to.

13) The Present Simple is often used in newspaper headlines to talk about events that have recently happened.

a) Quake hits central Iran.

b)  Foreign minister resigns.

14) We can use the Present Simple to refer to the contents of books, films, newspapers etc.

a) Thompson gives a list of the largest European companies in Chapter 6.

15) We can use the Present Simple in phrases such as It says here, I hear, I gather, I see, I understand, they say, someone says, someone tells to introduce news that we have heard read, seen, or been told.

a) Jane tells me you are thinking of emigrating.